And They’re Down the Stretch…

Forte winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland. (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)

~ Road to the Ky. Derby: TC Noms, Japan Road and U. S. Leaderboard 
~ Races To Watch This Weekend
~ Upcoming Road To Kentucky Derby Races

Churchill Downs Press Release/Edited

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Prior to the Risen Star at Fair Grounds, six Triple Crown nominees will test first level allowance company in Saturday’s Race 8 at 4:33 p.m. ET. The 1 1/16-mile event is headlined by flashy 8 ½-length maiden special weight winner Banishing, who was scratched from last month’s Lecomte (GIII) when he was cast in his stall. This same race on last year’s Risen Star program produced eventual Arkansas Derby (GI) winner Cyberknife. Ironically, his half-brother, Tapit Shoes is entered in this year’s first-level allowance along with fellow Triple Crown nominees Cagliostro, Denington, First Defender and Willakenzie.

The Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby will resume Sunday at Tokyo Racecourse for the Hyacinth Stakes (Listed). The one-mile event will award the top 5 finishers points on a 30-12-9-6-3 scale. The early probables for the race include Triple Crown nominees Eclogite (JPN), Goraiko (JPN), Meta Max (JPN), Omega Tuxedo (JPN), Perriere (JPN) and Sunday Funday (JPN).  The full list of entries click here.

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ impressive Saratoga maiden special weight winner Disarm will make his first start as a 3-year-old in Sunday’s eighth race at Oaklawn, a one-mile first-level allowance contest. Post time is 5:10 p.m. ET. 

The Championship Series on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks will begin Friday at Meydan for the $150,000 UAE Oaks (GIII). The 1 1/8-mile race features UAE 1,000 Guineas heroine Mimi Kakushi (3-2). The Top 5 finishers in the race will be awarded points on a 50-20-15-10-5 scale. Post time is 10:10 a.m. ET….

The Road to the Kentucky Oaks will continue Saturday with the $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (GII). The 1 1/16-mile race is headlined by undefeated Hoosier Philly (6-5). She’s set to face five rivals including Grade I placed Chop Chop. The Rachel Alexandra, which will award the top 5 finishers points on a 50-20-15-10-5 scale, will go as Race 12 of 13 with a post time of 6:41 p.m. ET. 

Key Races To Watch To Watch – This weekend there are several races around the world that could have implications on the Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks. Here are some of the key races:

Friday
·        10:10 a.m. ET, MEY 3, $150,000 UAE Oaks (GIII), 3yo f, 1 1/8 M
·        3:22 p.m. ET, AQU 5, MSW, 3yo f, 6 F
·        5:15 p.m. ET, FG 7, OC 80k n1x, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M

Saturday
·        1:30 p.m. ET, FG 2, MSW, 3yo f, 1 1/16 M
·        2:30 p.m. ET, FG 4, MSW, 3yo f, 6 F
·        3 p.m. ET, FG 5, MSW, 3yo, 6 F
·        3:35 p.m. ET, OP 5, MSW, 3yo, 1 M
·        3:38 p.m. ET, GP 8, MSW, 3yo, 1 1/8 M (turf)
·        4:02 p.m. ET, FG 7, MSW, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
·        4:07 p.m. ET, OP 6, OC 100k n1x, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
·        4:33 p.m. ET, FG 8, OC 80k n1x, 3yo, 1 1/16 M
·        4:38 p.m. ET, OP 7, MSW, 3yo, 6 F
·        5:55 p.m. ET, TP 1, MSW, 3yo, 6 ½ F (Tapeta)
·        6:41 p.m. ET, FG 12, $300,000 Rachel Alexandra (GII), 3yo f, 1 1/16 M
·        7:14 p.m. ET, FG 13, $400,000 Risen Star (GII), 3yo, 1 1/8 M

Sunday
·        12:25 a.m. ET, Tokyo 9, Hyacinth Stakes, 3yo, 1 M
·        5:10 p.m. ET, OP 8, OC 100k n2L, 3yo, 1 M

Champion Forte Leads Road To Kentucky Derby Leaderboard 

Through 20 races on the Road to the Kentucky Derby Prep Season, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable’s Forte tops the leaderboard with 40 points. The talented son of Violence is expected to make his return to the races in the March 4 Fountain of Youth (GII) at Gulfstream Park. 

Here are the Top 20 horses on the Leaderboard and next possible start: 

Early nominations to the 149^th running of the $1.25 million Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) close Saturday. To nominate, call (502) 636-3806.

Derby fans can keep up with all the news and notes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby by listening to “Inside the Kentucky Derby” – available on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube. 

Horses under the care of any suspended trainer or affiliates may be transferred to a non-suspended trainer and become eligible for earning Road to the Kentucky Derby points on a forward-looking basis so long as the transfer is complete by Feb. 28.   

Spring Meet stall applications are due Friday, March 3. Following its annual closure for wintertime renovations, the Churchill Downs stable area will reopen Tuesday, March 21. The first day of training on the main dirt track will be Friday, March 24.

Upcoming Road To Kentucky Derby Races

Feb. 25 (10 weeks out) – $1 million Rebel (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Oaklawn (Top 5 points: 50-20-15-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Bourbon Bash(D. Wayne Lukas); Giant Mischief (Brad Cox); Gun Pilot (Steve Asmussen); Red Route One (Steve Asmussen); and Verifying (Cox).

March 4 (nine weeks out) – $400,000 Fountain of Youth (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 5 points: 50-20-15-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Blazing Sevens (Chad Brown); Forte (Todd Pletcher); General Jim (Shug McGaughey); and Tapit Trice (Todd Pletcher).

March 4 (nine weeks out) – $400,000 San Felipe (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Santa Anita (Top 5 points: 50-20-15-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): National Treasure (Bob Baffert); Practical Move (Tim Yakteen); and Reincarnate (Bob Baffert).

March 4 (nine weeks out) – $300,000 Gotham (GIII), one mile, Aqueduct (Top 5 points: 50-20-15-10-5)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Arctic Arrogance (Linda Rice); Corona Bolt (Brad Cox); Jace’s Road (Brad Cox); Lugan Knight (Michael McCarthy); and Slip Mahoney (Cox).

March 4 (nine weeks out) – $150,000 John Battaglia Memorial, 1 1/16 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 5 points: 20-8-6-4-2)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Funtastic Again (Wesley Ward)

March 11 (eight weeks out) – $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GII), 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs
Known possible starters (with trainer): Classic Car Wash (Mark Casse); Groveland (Eoin Harty); andTapit Trice (Todd Pletcher).

March 25 (six weeks out) – $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Fair Grounds (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Instant Coffee (Brad Cox).

March 25 (six weeks out) – $1 million UAE Derby (GII), 1 3/16 miles, Meydan Racecourse (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Tall Boy (Doug O’Neill)

March 25 (six weeks out) – $700,000 Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII), 1 1/8 miles (Tapeta), Turfway Park (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Chase the Chaos (Ed Moger Jr.); Scoobie Quando (Ben Colebrook); and Wadsworth (Brad Cox).

March 26 (six weeks out) – $600,000 Sunland Derby (GIII), 1 1/8 miles, Sunland Park (Top 4 points: 50-20-10-5)

April 1 (five weeks out) – $1 million Florida Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Gulfstream Park (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

April 1 (five weeks out) – $1.25 million Arkansas Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Oaklawn Park (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

April 8 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Wood Memorial (GII), 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Hit Show (Brad Cox)

April 8 (four weeks out) – $1 million Blue Grass (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Keeneland (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)

April 8 (four weeks out) – $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI), 1 1/8 miles, Santa Anita (Top 4 points: 100-40-20-10)
Known possible starters (with trainer): Chase the Chaos (Ed Moger Jr.)

April 15 (three weeks out) – $400,000 Lexington (GIII), 1 1/16 miles, Keeneland (Top 4 points: 20-8-4-2)

Note: The possible fields for upcoming Kentucky Derby Championship Series races are fluid as owners and trainers vie for points. Known possible horses mentioned to be under consideration for each race are based on published news reports and other sources. Horses listed in italics are possible for multiple races.

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